Isaiah 34:3

Authorized King James Version

Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְחַלְלֵיהֶ֣ם
Their slain
pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
#2
יֻשְׁלָ֔כוּ
also shall be cast out
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
#3
וּפִגְרֵיהֶ֖ם
out of their carcases
a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image
#4
יַעֲלֶ֣ה
shall come up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#5
בָאְשָׁ֑ם
and their stink
a stench
#6
וְנָמַ֥סּוּ
shall be melted
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
#7
הָרִ֖ים
and the mountains
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#8
מִדָּמָֽם׃
with their blood
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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